EFCC arraigns Kaduna businessman for alleged N1.02bn forex fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Captain Nuhu Haruna before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court over an alleged foreign exchange scam involving N1.02 billion.

Haruna, Managing Director of Maphutha Oil & Gas Limited, was brought before the court on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

He faces a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence and advance fee fraud.

According to the EFCC, Haruna allegedly collected a total of N1.02 billion from one Alhaji Sheriff Zailani Shanono between December 2023 and January 2024 under the pretext of providing the dollar equivalent of the amount.

The anti-graft agency stated that Haruna obtained N782.3 million in December 2023 and another N125 million in January 2024 from the complainant, claiming he could convert the sums into U.S. dollars.

However, after the complainant transferred the money, Haruna reportedly presented fake evidence of dollar payment into a foreign bank account, which turned out to be false when no funds were received.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his plea, the EFCC counsel, M.E. Eimonye, requested a trial date, while defence counsel, M.T. Mohammed, informed the court that a bail application had been filed.

Justice Khobo adjourned the case to November 19, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre pending further proceedings.

According to the EFCC, the case arose from a petition filed by Shanono, who alleged that Haruna deceived him with promises of large forex transactions that turned out to be fraudulent.